ryn004

Should you bike after you eat, or before? Or does it make no difference?

Apparition

Ooops...thought it said bikini !
Time for bed methinks.
Yve

hades

You shouldn't bike immediately after a large meal, as your body is then working on digesting it. However, if you're intending to do a lot of hard work, you shouldn't start on a completely empty stomach either as your body won't have handy reserves on energy to use.

I'd suggest that ideally, exercise a couple of hours after a large meal, or less time after a smaller meal/snack. If you're going out on an empty stomach, eat something fairly light but with good carb content say 15 minutes beforehand.

+Doc+

The rule of thumb is leave it two hours before any exercise after a "large" meal.
If you havent eat anything and you want to bike have a Mars bar or summit, it will give you an energy boost.

Graphite

For fat loss - cardio before breakfast is recommended...

Abdabz

I am always more comfortable undertaking excecise 1-2 hours after I have eaten, but with a hearty meal in my tum and I would wait 2hours at least for it to digest...
Cycling on an empty stomach is logically going to burn fat as there's no new supply of energy, but I still recommend a choccy bar or similar before you go just to give you the short term boost to set you on your way
If you are going off on an empty stomach, I take a "powerade" type drink in my rucksack (water in the normal water bottle), just in case I start feeling a bit "sugarless" en route...

ChrisB

I'd chuck if I went out straight after eating. For the long Saturday rides I do, I have a good breakfast (normally porridge with a big handfull of fruit like sultanas added and toast about two or three hours before riding. I find that's enough time to digest it and avoid any dicky feelings on the first climb of the day.